Web control for carton converting machine



July 9, 1957 Original File-d April 15, 1948 A c. z. MONROE ETAL 2,798,582 WEB CONTROL FOR CARTON CONVERTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shet l NVEaN-fall-J* July 9, l957 c z. MONROE HAL 2,798,582

WEB CONTROL FOR CARTON CONVERTING MACHINE Original Filed April 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Charles 2.'.CTncru-o cnf-tn clrlcugmond.

July 9, 19.57 c. z. MONROE ETAL 2,798,582

WEB CONTROL FOR CARTON CONVERTING MACHINE original Filed April 15. 194s sheets-sheet s www WEBiCGNTROL FOR: CARTGN CQNVER'EING MACHNE Charles Z. Monroe and Norton G. Raymond, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporationo Michigan Original applicationApril= 15, 1948 Serial No. 21,296,

now PatentNo. 2,682,208, dated .lune 29, 1954. Di-

vided and thisapplication November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,326'

s claims. (ci.` 192-127) The; present: invention relatesl to carton` converting machines: and others. of' like nature for performinge one or more operations on a continuous web of paperboard or, theV likefdrawn therethrough. More particularlythe inventionrelates` to the control of the webiin such machines` Thelinstant application isI ai division ofk applicants2 copending application Serial No. 21,296, iledl April 15, 1948 (now Patent No. 2,682,208).

It is` the general aim of the invention to prov-ide means forguidingrthe web as` it4 passesbetween working parts` ofv a machine` of the type describedlabove, and for automatically protecting thel machine against bunching of the web oranunduly thick portionrtherein.` i

Another object of` the invention isl to provide a floating shoe riding onthemoving web with freedom to bedisplacedi upon the accidental' bunching` of the` web, together with means` forstopping'l the machine uponA -a predetermined displacement, thereby preventing damage to `working parts.`

Still another object of the invention is tornake possible the accomplishment of the foregoing objectives through theA employment of conveniently constructed and organizedcomponents which are-economical in cost yet reliable in operation.

Further objects andl advantages will b'ecomeapparent as the following' detailed description proceeds, takenin connectionwith the-accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a side elevation of an exemplary web scoring and cutting assembly in which'thelinventionlis advantageously employed.

Fig. 2 is alfragmentary verticalI sectional view tak-en through the assembly of Fig. l and in the plane of the line 2-2, andillustrating one embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 3 is -an` enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a detector shoe arrangement mounted between the scoring and cutting rolls,I the adjustable separating means for such rolls also being indicated;

While the invention is susceptible of-various modifications andl alternative constructions, a preferred embodiment has b'een illustrated in the drawings andwill be described below inconsiderable detail; It should be understood,` however, that there isnor intention to` lirnit'the` invention tothe specific formV shown, b'ut on:

thecontrary; thefin'tention' is to cover,allniodilicationsand alternativen constructions" falling within the spirit: andfscope of'the inventionas expressednnthe appended claims.

Inasmuch as the present invention finds especiallyV ad vantageous, but not exclusive, employmentiny a cartt'm` converting machine ofV the typedesc'ribedin the aforementioned copending application, reference may bemade to `PatentI No. 2,682,608-A for the details of rudi a muachine in order` to'understand one environment ofl'tlie invention.v l

It will sui'ce here to observe only that thecutting 2,. and` scoring assembly depicted in Fig. 1 may be a part of`a larger over-all machine which performs successive functions on` a web W of paperboard or like material drawn continuously from a supply roll (noty shown). The machine may include, for example,` al printing unit for printing various multi-color indicia on the web W' beforeA it reaches the cutting and scoring :assembly which scores foldlnes in blank andthen cuts them around their periphery free of the web. All of the various parts of the machine may" be' driven in properly timed relation by gearing connection t'o a main` motor (not shown).

As shown in Fig. ll, the scoring and cutting assembly includes a pair` of vertically spaced scoringy rolls 70,

A which arei fashioned to have a supporting shaft journaled in side frame; members. These rolls are adapted ton cary mating dies ("not illustrated) whichembrace thewvebjW as it passes between thev rotating rolls, and which thus. score or `impress fold lines in` blanks which are `subsequently cut from the web.

Spaced' from the scoring rolls 70, 70A in Vthe direction ofweb trayel'are cooperating upper andV lower cutting rollsA 11 712A which may be. in general oftlie same size and shape as the scoring" rolls.. The cuttingt rolls .71, 71A are eachmounted on a supporting, shaft journaledL in the` side framesoftlie assembly, and carry sets ofmat-ingl` dies (not illustrated) which bite ,into the web asL it passes" therebetween,. partially or completely cutting out tlieA previously scoredblanks.

For rotating the'four. rolls 70; 70A,V 71, 71A in timed relation tothe passageof' the web Wthereljetween, power is' transmitted from a `main driving" motor `(not shown) tothe scoring and cutting rolls via a countershaft 178 and' a connecting gear train (Figs. l a'nd'Z)- As'indi- Cated in tlle drawings,` one terminal` member of this `gear train constitutes a bevel gear 179` which is driven by a meshing bevel pinion 180 Vfixed to the. shaft 17S. The" other terminalme'm'ber of' the gear train is in this instance a spur p inior1181 which drivingly meshes` with gears- 182, 18"4 xed respectively upon the supporting Shaftsot" the lower scoring andllower cutting rolls`7tlA, 71A. The gears 182,' and 184,.in.turn, mesh with substantially identical'u gears 182A, 1811A rigidly ix'ed upon the respective^ supporting shafts of the upper scoring and upper cutting rolls 70' andt71'. To permit a phasingv adjustment' between the entire. scoring and cutting assembly andtheL remainder of the machine which acts on'thewebW, a split coupling 186 is made in two angulrly adjustable" halves 188, 1339twhicli can be clamped relative t'o each other by means of'one or more locking screws 19D; The.' member 188 of the `coupling 186 is formed witli` one` or more adial'lioles for receivingV a capstan'bar` (not shown). To facilitate adjustment of the coupling 186, a' anged hubV member 191 is rigidly mounted on the shaft' 178 and. spaced axially fomrthe coupling 186. Like the nieniber 18S, the member 191 also'has radial holes for the iiiseiticn ofa capstan bar. Accordingly, the foregoing. adustment can readily be made bymerely loosening the locking screws 1490 and rotatingthe members 1S-8a`nd` 191v` with respect to each othe`r` by` means of` atpaiiof capstan'bars.

In accordance, with the present invention, `provision is'made for guiding andgiving intermediate support to that portion of` the web W' passing between tl'ie scoring rolls70, 70A` andthe cutting rolls 71`, 7`1'A`.. As here embodied, there ismountd betweentliese two pairs of rolls aixed supportingplate (Fig. 3l) so arranged that tleplaneofits upper. face generally` coincides with a-commontangent runninglbetween the rolls 70A-, 71A.

guide shoes 1798". The latter are suspended from a pair of supporting bars 199 which span the web transversely, the shoes 198 being arranged in axially spaced relationship upon such bars (Fig. 2). In the vicinity of each of the shoes 198, the supporting bars 199 are of somewhat enlarged diameter and, in addition, are grooved eccentrically as at 200 in the planes of the respective shoes 198. The eccentric portions 200 of the bars 199 extend through oversize passages 204 defined in the shoes by machined notches 205 and partially covering fingers 206 bolted in place. Since the grooved or eccentric portions 200 are smaller in cross section than the shoe passages 204, each of the shoes has freedom for limited upward floating movement. Furthermore, by simply rotating the bars 199 to various angular positions, the attitude of the shoes 198 and the clearance distance between the shoes and the plate 196 can be readily adjusted. That is, if the two bars 199 are given equal angular adjustment, the shoes 198 will be bodily raised or lowered to increase or decrease the width of the guideway which they deline with the plate 196. Adjustment to accommodate webs of different thickness is thus conveniently accomplished. But in addition, if the two bars 199 are given diiferential angular adjustment, the shoes 198 may be tilted, i. e., changed in attitude, so that the guideway defined with the plate 196 tapers in width, for example, in the direction of web travel, thus smoothing the entry of the web into that guideway.

In order to detect bunching or jamming in the web W as the latter passes across the plate 196 and thus permit appropriate steps to be taken to avoid damaging the machine 50, full advantage is taken of the limited vertical floating movement of which the shoes 198 are capable. Referring more specifically to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that a series of electrical switches 201 .is disposed in overlying relationship with the shoes 198. To permit actuation of the switches 201 by respective ones of the shoes, a plurality of vertically movable plungers 202 are interposed respectively between each of the shoes 198 and its associated switch 201. The switches 201 can be arranged to actuate an appropriate stop signal or, alternatively, may be connected directly into the dynamic braking circuit of a main driving motor (not shown) to provide an automatic emergency stop for the entire machine.

For further details of the machine and its operation, reference may be had to the above-mentioned copending application Serial No. 21,296. It is believed that from the foregoing the operation and advantages of the present guiding and protective means will be apparent. However, such operation will be briefly summarized.

As the web W passes through the scoring rolls 70, 70A there may be, under unusual circumstances, a tendency for it to wrap around the upper roll 70, or to sag if the machine has been threaded with slack in the web between the rolls 70, 70A and 71, 71A. The plate 196 positively supports the web to prevent such sagging, while the shoes 198 preclude the web from wrapping up on the roll 70. The web is thus guided smoothly from the scoring to the cutting rolls. The manner in which the shoes are mounted on eccentric portions of the rods 199 permits convenient adjustment of the normal height of the shoes above the plate. Simply by rotating the rods 199 this spacing can be adjusted to accommodate webs of varying thicknesses.

Additionally, the floating mount of the shoes 1798, permitting them to shift upwardly from their normal position with respect to the rods 199, is combined with the safety switches 201 and means for operating the latter upon a predetermined elevation of the shoes. Thus, should the web tend to bunch or jam between the shoes 198 and the plate 196, the plungers 202 are shoved upwardly to actuate one or more of the switches which may act through a suitable control circuit either to give a warning signal or to quickly stop the machines driving motor. Any bunching of the web or unduly thick portion therein is promptly detected by the shoes 198 and switches 201 so that the machine may be stopped before the web is broken and before any damage is done to the dies on either the scoring or the cutting rolls.

We claim:

1. In a machine for converting a moving web of sheet material into carton blanks, said machine having scoring rolls and cutting rolls spaced therefrom longitudinally in the direction of web travel, the combination of a plate interposed between the said scoring and cutting rolls for supporting the web therebetween, guide shoes overlying said plate and spaced therefrom at a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the web, means including an angularly adjustable bar having eccentric portions engaging said shoes for adjusting the position of said shoes above said plate, said means permitting limited vertical floating movement of said shoes, and switch means responsive to the oating movement of said shoes for detecting an abnormal increase in the thickness of the web.

2. In a machine having spaced pairs of rolls between which a continuous web is drawn, the combination of a support plate extending substantially tangentially between the corresponding rolls in each pair and disposed on one side of the web, a cross bar spaced from the opposite side of the web and having a plurality of axial spaced eccentric portions, a plurality of guide shoes having passageways receiving respective ones of said eccentric portions and flat surfaces spaced from the opposite side of the web, means for rotatably positioning said bar to vary the spacing between said shoes and plate to form a guideway for webs of dierent thicknesses, said passageway being oversize relative to said eccentric portions to permit translation of said shoes away from said plate, a plurality of switches, and means for actuating said switches in response to such translation by respective ones of said shoes, whereby said switches may be employed to stop the machine in the event of the web jamming between said plate and one of said shoes.

3. In a machine for performing operations on a web drawn therethrough, the combination of a support plate over which said web passes, a shoe having two passages therethrough at spaced locations disposed over said web, means for oatably supporting said shoe in vertically adjustable relation above said plate whereby the plate and shoe forms a guideway for webs of different thicknesses, said last named means including two angularly positionable support bars passed through respective ones of said shoe passages and having undersize eccentric portions engaging the shoe passages, equal angular adjustment of said bars thus varying the width of said guideway and differential angular adjustment of said bars changing the attitude of said shoe, and electrical means actuated by upward displacement of said shoe to thereby detect bunching, jamming and thickening of the web between said shoe and plate.

4. In a machine for performing operations on a web and having motive means for drawing the web therethrough, the combination of a support plate, a shoe having a passage therethrough, means for supporting said shoe above said plate at a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the web to thereby define a guide through which the web is passed, said means including an angularly positionable member having an eccentric portion disposed in said shoe passage with freedom for movement relative to the shoe, angular adjustment of said member thereby changing the distance between the plate and the shoe to accommodate webs of dilerent thicknesses while always permitting upward movement of the shoe when the web bunches or jams, and means responsive to such movement by said shoe for stopping said motive means.

5. In a machine for performing operations on a continuous web drawn therethrough and having a pair of 5 cutting rolls spaced in the direction of web travel from a pair of scoring rolls, the combination of a plate extending substantially tangentially between said rolls to support the web, a shoe having a flat bottom surface and tapered edges overlying said plate and web, said shoe also having a transverse passage, an angularly positionable bar having an eccentric portion loosely disposed in said passage for supporting said shoe adjustably spaced above the web and with freedom to shift upwardly, a switch, and means for actuating said switch upon such shifting of said shoe, whereby said shoe and plate constrain said web to run directly from the scoring rolls to the cutting rolls and said switch is actuated by bunching of the web to elevate said shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Obert Oct. 29, 1907 Harris et a1. Apr. 1, 1919 Canning June 21, 1932 Ginsberg Aug. 9, 1938 Welk May 4, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 9, 1941 

